Categorical denial of reports prominently carried by the "Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury" yesterday afternoon alleging the sinking of "over a hundred sampans and junks" in Soochow Greek by members of the Japanese Special Naval Landing Party, was made last night by Commander Machi Hazama, Japanese Naval spokesman.
"Entirely without foundation," was the comment made by Commander Hazama regarding the "Evening Post" report, The Naval spokesman declared that an immediate investigation had been made to verify the report, but it was found to be totally groundless, Commander Hazama recalled that last Monday night, at about 11 o'clock, shots were fired against members of the Japanese Special Naval Landing Party while they were patrolling the banks of Sorchow Creek, Investigations confirmed that the shots came from one of the many junks jammed in the creek, the spokesman said, In view of the situation, the spokesman went on, the authorities of the Special Navel Landing Party moved all junks and sampans on the creek within the jurisdiction of the Special Naval Landing Pzrty, to points up or down creek in order to carry out closer investigations.
Vessels above suspicion were allowed passage through the creek, he declared, adding thet these measures have been in effect since yesterday morning.
Reiterating that members of the Japanese Special Naval Lending Party had nothing to do with the destruction or sinking of any sampans or junks, Commander Hazama went dri to enumerate three instances in which sampans were damaged.
The "Evening Post" report was described by Commander Hazama as "too much a perversion of the truth," He added that it was a matter of leourse that strict measures should be enforced against prevailing acts of terrorism,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.